- By Sakshi Gupta
- Fri, 26 Jan 2024 06:19 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
75th Republic Day 2024: President Emmanuel Macron of France announced on Friday that 30,000 Indian students would be invited to study in France, ahead of India's 75th Republic Day celebrations. This announcement came a month after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Paris as the main guest of France's National Day celebrations the previous year.
Today on X, the French leader Macron shared the plan to invite around 30,000 students to study in France. He wrote, "30,000 Indian students in France in 2030. It’s a very ambitious target, but I am determined to make it happen. Here’s how."
30,000 Indian students in France in 2030.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) January 26, 2024
It’s a very ambitious target, but I am determined to make it happen.
Here’s how: pic.twitter.com/QDpOl4ujWb
The French president outlined how the country is developing new facilities for learning French, including a network of alliances françaises and international classrooms. He went on to say that France will make it easier for Indian graduates to obtain visas in the nation.
"Coming to France means looking for excellence. We are launching new pathways in order to learn French in public schools with the "French for All, French for a Better Future". We are developing the network of Alliances françaises, with new centers to learn French. We are creating international classes which will allow students, who do not necessarily speak French, to join our universities. Last but not least, we will facilitate the visa process for any former Indian students who studied in France," the post further added.
Macron stated that France has 35 universities in the QS rating and around 15 in the Times Higher Education ranking.
"We have now 35 universities in the QS ranking, and about 15 in the Times higher education ranking. India and France have so much to do together, now and in the future. We will achieve this with you, our young people, in exchange and cooperation, in trust, in friendship!" the post concluded.
Following the announcement in September 2023, the French embassy in India implemented a series of steps, including a five-year short-stay Schengen visa, to recruit more Indian students. The activities are part of people-to-people relations, which are seen as one of the three pillars of the two nations' strategic cooperation.